Wednesday, 8 July 2009

There's More to the Deli Than Sandwiches

One of my favourite Disney Details in all the Main Street U.S.A's around the world, is the windows that roll the credits of some Imagineers and important figures in the Walt Disney Company and their theme parks. I have looked at these before, but I thought it is important to take some time to look at the other windows and the people that have played a roll in bringing the Happiest Place on Earth to France.

Let's have a look at these individuals... Now, as there is very little literature on Disneyland Paris, apologies if anything is not 100% accurate.

Orlando Ferrante is a Disney Legend, inducted in 2003 as part of Imagineering, and was a former Vice President of Engineering, Design and Production. He helped relocate and recreate some of the attractions from the 1964-65 New York State Fair to Disneyland, as well as working during the construction of Walt Disney World. He moved to France in 1990, where he as appointed Vice President of Show/Ride Engineering, Production and Installation for Euro Disney.

Wayne Jackson also worked in Imagineering, and helped develop and build the figures for the Haunted Mansion in both Florida and California. This would later provide inspiration for the Phantom Manor at Disneyland Paris.

When researching for Dave Spencer, the only link to Disney I could find is with regards to Dave Spencer who invented the APT Process for animated films, debuting this process in The Black Cauldron in 1983. This allowed a better process for transferring animators' art onto film cells. He actually won an Oscar (Scientific/Technical) for this.

Finally, Tim Kelley was also an Imagineer, who - as a young Imagineer - worked on the Autopia at Disneyland, creating a prototype new MK VII car. He later worked on Test Track at Epcot in Walt Disney World as a Ride Mechanical Engineer.